Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-07-23
BY TELEPHONE.

letter from the dearest girl in the
world, and jumped on the horse-car, en-
route for my officel
Some months had passed since l saw
my Agnes, for the first time, at a dinner
at the Peytons'. 1 had frequently met
Miss George Peyton in society, and had
been several times invited to her recep-
tions, SO was not surprised to receive
one day an invitation to dino with her
informally" !" to meet a young lady from
Aiken, s. G. OF course presented my
self at this informal dinner in full even
ing dress, where met some other gentle
men in similar Clarkson was one
of them-and a few young ladies, and
was introduced to my Agnes. If could
only make you sec her as she appeared to
me that night-so fresh and blooming:
the blue of her clear, peaceful eyes; the
delicious curve of her delicate lipsl But
enough that then and there yielded, and
became her ardent adorer.
From the first she distinguished me
with her favor. / was her escort to con-
cert and opera. Twas allowed to claim
the best dances; they were always my
flowers she carried, and, finally, before
she returned to Aiken, Twas her accepted
loverl
The year had flown swiftly, and now
brilliant prospect seemed to open before
me. My firm was about to establish a
branch department in another part of the
city, and proposed to make one of their
clerks a junior partner and manager of
the new concern. l had been the longest
in their employ, and had reason to think
/ was regarded with favor by "Old
Gruf"-as Mr.. Gruffland, the senior
partner, was called-and he would be the
one to make the promotion and settle the
question of salary.
Indeed, for some weeks had seen that
he was working the management into my
hands, SO felt justified in writing to
Agnes, urging our immediate union. The
dear girl consented, and in the letter re-
ceived that morning she told me she was
coming again to make long visit at the
Peytons' to ''do some shopping" En-
trancing wordsl What did they not i'm
ply3 And that 'if all went welr-if I
got the position. of course-"we might
be married. before very longp was the
happiest man in the world, as 1 folded
the dear little letter away, resolving, ifit
was in the power of man to earn promo.
ton, l would make myself indispensable
to my employers.
Well, she came. There was demure
but delightful meeting at the station and
an enchanting twenty minutes until de-
livered her to Miss Georges arms at the
Peytons' door.
Then followed days of devotion to
work. followed by evenings of unaIIoved
bliss. Isay ''unalloyed, but there was
one drawback. The Peyton family were
very considerate, Miss George especially
SO, but my darling Agnes was haunted
with the fear that they would think her
visit to them was only to enjoy my So
ciety, and was constantly suggesting
that we should "join the family in the
sitting room" Old Mrs. Peyton was a
bore, but mild paterfamilias an
unmitigated one; Miss Georgia was be-
nignant, but slightly tiresome. There
was only one other member of the
family, pretty little fellow named
Ralph, but the girls had taken to call
ing him Raphael" from some fancied
resemblance to one Of the Sistine cherubs.
He seemed quiet little chap, with a
sweet innocence of expression and de-
meanor, who posed good deal of the
time with his cheek on his hand, after
the manner Of the cherub aforesaid. He
was devoted to Agnes, and hung round
her more than was pleasant, for which 1
occasionally snubbed him rather Sc
yerely, but she always interceded for
him. ''IIe was such little fellow-and
then he was so lovely was he not ones
ideal of boy2"
Agnes had been in the city a few weeks
when, one morning, the telephone bell in
our Office rang sharply. This was Of fire.
quent occurrence, and Clarkson's desk
was stationed near it to save time in an
swering the call. The rest Of us scarcely
looked up as the familiar ''hullolv was
shouted, or the concluding: GAN rightl
I'll tell Mr.. Grufiiand. Goodbye But
this morning olarkson turned to me with:
"This is for you, Dixonw Accordingly
l shouted "huIlof" and in return heard
Miss Georgie's voice;